Would you trust a local dealer to help you put

Bifwynne- before the Internet made it so easy to 'chat,' buy equipment and research stuff, people used to get together in hi-fi clubs, and I suppose some still do. And the regular meetings were just a part of it. You also met others in your area, could listen to each other's systems, swap out different pieces of equipment in a controlled setting with more time and less pressure than in a retail store environment, etc. And, even in the context of more formal meetings, dealers or manufacturers would bring equipment to listen to. It's a good model and one we should try to encourage and support. It requires time, though, and more willingness and effort than sitting in front of a keyboard (not criticizing you by any means, as I sit in front of a keyboard).
There is also alot to be said for 'same manufacturer' synergies within a system.
You are right about the limits of what any given dealer can supply, Seattle Hi-Fi's views notwithstanding. If a dealer thinks, based on his own world view, with the best of intentions, that brand X is the best for a particular product category at a price, that dealer may not be able to help much if you want something else that he/she doesn't carry. Seattle (and perhaps a few other dealers) would be comfortable referring you to another dealer who does carry it. The obvious advantage of a dealer (or a good dealer anyway) is support, knowledge base and in-home trial. That's what you pay a premium for, rather than buying used, from private individuals. But no single dealer can know it all or handle everything.
So, just like many other things, it is on you to do your own research as well.
And, with context, places like this board help too. I'm not sure that just posting a 'what amplifier should i buy' is going to lead to much, because each of us have our own preferences and biases too, but in the context of specific set up questions, technical issues (I got a fair amount of help here when I was doing dedicated AC panel/lines), you can get some solid input from other members who are not trying to sell you anything.

Great points Whart!! I particularly like the audio club idea. And as far as OPs asking for equipment recommendations, unless there's something that jumps out at me as being a problem or as being only fair to make a suggestion, I rarely if ever respond. There's been an OP running for some time about "The Best Speaker" or something to that effect. IMHO, it's a nonsense thread.

hi seattlehifi;

here is the problem :

suppose you set up a stereo system, based upon what you think constitutes great sound. then i set up a stereo system based upon what i consider great sound.

i will probably prefer my stereo system to your stereo system.

what a dealer can do as far as "value added" to achieve the type of sound i want, i feel i can do myself.

i consider myself sufficiently educated to figure out how to reach my goals and can do so, by dealing direct with manufacturers who provide an in home audition.

a dealer can suggest and recommend, but the consumer is in a better position than a dealer to know what he wants and be willing to get the necessary information to achieve his goals.

if a person doesn't want to expend time, effort and emotion, then a dealer may be the answer.

if a person doesn't want to expend time, effort and emotion, then a dealer may be the answer. 08-11-12: Mrtennis

These are things I have spent, including money. But now I'm considering a different path to get some assistance, since doing this with no friends or associates in audio and in a vacuum has not provided enough musical enjoyment, and it's always been about the music for me, not the gear.

Mr. Tennis,

If you and I, together, attended a concert where the sound was clearly off, we would most likely be in agreement. It wouldn't be a case of where I thought it was great and you were looking at me in bewilderment as if I was tone deaf.

In my experience, 99% of the time when I heard a sonic improvement, the client heard it as well. Sadly, clients don't trust their own ears enough and I wish they would. I am not keen on selling people individual components based on a review that the client read somewhere. A systems approach is what we both preach and practice.

You and I (and others in this thread) ALL AGREE that only the client knows what sounds most pleasing to him or her -and this sound can change over the course of one's life, too.

There isn't a perfect speaker that suits all. Everyone has a favorite flavor of sound. If they know which flavor and can communicate it to me then great - I will know exactly how to advise them.

If they can't describe what they are looking for then I start from ground zero - asking them what speakers they have owned - what they recently heard and liked and by playing for them 3 different sounding systems (warm, neutral, bright) to determine their preference and then fine tune from there. When I sit down with clients to design a system around their lifestyle - I design it with them in mind - not me.

I do not have to sell what I have in inventory - this is old school thinking. When you deal with the very best in hifi - special orders are a must. I cannot stock every custom finish that Verity offers for every model in their line-up. I stock one finish and if the customer likes what they hear from my demo pair then I special order a pair in their preferred finish. I never understood why some dealers went to the trouble to open a speaker, dial it in, break it in, and then just sell it at a discount to then have to unbox another and start the process over. We keep our demos on hand and view that inventory as the cost of doing business.

Please understand that from my point of view, based on years of experience, there is no hard sell to high-end AV. A-B-C doesn't apply (always be closing). The equipment sells itself. I make a recommendation and demo a system or I bring an individual item over to the client's home - we listen to a few tracks prior to installing the new item and both the client and I know if we have a winner. It doesn't matter how much or how little the component retails for - I was making house calls with $500 dacs and USB to S/PDIF converters.

Finally, many of my clients are close friends and they are welcome to spend many, many hours chit-chatting about hifi with me but we do it outide of the shop - as friends should. We talk during hikes, over a game of chess, fishing on the lakes or rivers of Washington, during long lunches, or weekend dinners, etc.

I own the company so I am, in essence, a commissioned salesperson, right? However, I do not see the dealer to client relationship as one vs. the other.